The recent publication of the NHS's innovation, health and wealth document signals the start of a new era of concentrated activity for a truly world-class health service.

In his foreword, NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson wrote: "Our ambition must be for an NHS defined by its commitment to innovation and success in the rapid adoption and diffusion of the best, transformative, most innovative ideas, products, services and clinical practice."

NHS East of England has been working to support innovation within the region, allocating 70% of funds to drive progress at the frontline to help improve the lives of those with long-term conditions through the use of technology.

The business model for these innovations encapsulates the main characteristics government ministers have been continually urging to create; true public-private partnerships which will bring enormous benefits to NHS patients and practitioners; an improvement in efficiency and productivity; and the generation of significant cost savings without sacrificing on the standards of care.

We've seen successful case studies such as the CapPlan capacity planning tool, which uses forecasting and real-time data to match staff and physical resources to workload to improve the management of patient bed flow in hospitals. The tool has been crucial in providing services both in the short-term and longer term planning to reduce the length of inpatient stay, and has helped the trust save around £600,000 per year.

Another exciting new initiative already gaining interest nationally and internationally includes supporting a highly creative and energetic entrepreneur, Dawson King, and recruiting him on to the innovation council to bring together the best of the NHS and the best of private industry.

Founded by Dawson and funded with private money, Cambridge Healthcare created a new social network of healthcare which is open to all NHS patients and is free at point of use.

Launched three months ago, the site is being piloted by a number of NHS providers, including Addenbrooke's hospital, which is encouraging patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to sign up. The portal enables patient empowerment and shared decision-making, so that patients take more responsibility for their personal health and wellness plan.

By having the ability to share important health information more effectively with doctors, nurses and care workers, the portal is generating significant interest from other NHS regions and the Department of Health. It is also heading towards national rollout over the coming years and is gaining international traction.

It was recently awarded with an accolade for IT at this year's Institution of Engineering and Technology Innovation Awards, and the company is in advanced discussions with Microsoft's HealthVault.

Nicholson's call to action needs to be seen as a revolution for the entire sector; the centre of which must be the patient. As chair of both the NHS's East of England Innovation Council and of Health Enterprise East, a limited company and one of the regional innovation hubs, it has been especially exciting to be participating in some of the most innovative developments aimed at turning these aspirations for improvement into reality.

Professor Alan Barrell is chair of the NHS Innovation Council, East of England and chair of Health Enterprise East.